Reveller gets unpaid work after headbutting man in a pub

A reveller headbutted a man in a pub after he had struck him with a seat cushion during a play fight with a friend.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, February 14, how Anthony Richard Taylor, 44, of The Dale, Wirksworth, had been at the Wheatsheaf pub, on St John Street, Wirksworth, when he assaulted Neil McPherson.

Prosecuting solicitor John Cooper said: “The complainant had been out drinking with his partner and had been walking back from the town centre and as he approached the Wheatsheaf he met a chap who invited him in to have a drink.”

Mr McPherson stated while he was in the Wheatsheaf he was struck on the back by something and Taylor and his friend both came towards him before Taylor headbutted him across the bridge of his nose.

Taylor told police he had been drinking with a friend and they had started having a cushion fight for fun and he struck Mr McPherson with a cushion which the defendant accepted was a stupid thing to have done.

Defence solicitor Steve Brint claimed that Taylor and McPherson had squared up and there had been some pushing and shoving and the defendant accepts there was a coming together of heads.

Taylor pleaded guilty to committing assault by beating after the incident on January 28.

Mr Brint added that Taylor is extremely apologetic for his actions.

Magistrates adjourned the case to consider a probation report before sentencing during the same day.

Taylor was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.